Toni Riki, Owner and Director of the school and is a native of Michigan. She relocated to San Diego in 1984 and enjoyed a successful career as a Makeup Artist working on motion pictures such as "Titanic" and "Ever After" as well as the popular CBS series "Promised Land".

In the mid-1990's, after more than a decade of dealing with chronic back pain, depression, Graves disease, and a lifetime of weight issues Toni made the choice to begin her journey of self-healing. In early 2000 Toni took her first Bikram Yoga class. When leaving that class she noticed that she felt lighter (both physically and mentally) and had no back pain. It was obvious that there was something very special about this yoga. She attended class every day and after only 5 months decided to go to Bikrams' Teacher Training - not to be a teacher, but to continue with the incredible healing that was taking place within her body and mind. So impressed with Bikram and his yoga Toni made a life altering decision to go back to San Diego and teach Bikram Yoga. She has been teaching full-time since then and in September of 2002 she opened the Kearny Mesa school.

It is Toni's desire to show others that they can heal themselves and improve their lives through the regular practice of Bikram's Yoga. She is committed to continual education in order to expand her knowledge of yoga therapy and yoga philosophy. If she could say one thing to everyone it would be "Believe in yourself, you can do it!"

I began practicing Bikram Yoga in Burlington, Vermont in 2000 after developing a chlorine allergy that left me unable to continue my exercise of choice, competitive swimming. I came to yoga reluctantly, though it seemed to make sense. I was searching for a workout that might help me age gracefully with better posture and less pain. Two surgeries had left me with knee and shoulder pain, and I had carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. As a graphic designer, I had been sitting (slouching) at a computer for 10 years.

I was amazed by the profound changes that occurred in my life as a result of practicing Bikram Yoga. The pain went away and my posture improved. My attitude improved. I developed patience with myself after a lifetime of competitive sports and a "no pain, no gain" mentality. I learned to let go of the "ego" associated with competitive sports and really listen to my body, without comparing myself to others. I learned to breathe and stay calm even when things were scary, as the Camel and Fixed-Firm postures were when I first began practicing. My life transformed as a result of Bikram Yoga. In 2005 I sold my home and graphic design business in Vermont, attended the Bikram Teacher Training in 2006, and now I'm thrilled to be a Bikram Yoga instructor and resident of sunny San Diego. It is an honor and a pleasure to share this yoga, and I'm excited to witness the inevitable transformations that will occur as a result of the practice.

I grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, and moved to the United States in 1999. Two years later, in 2001 I discovered Bikram yoga, fell in love with it and have been practicing ever since.

As I began practicing, I started noticing many positive changes. Bikram Yoga became not just a great workout for me, but a big part of my life. I became much more positive, I learned how to enjoy life more, I even learned how to breathe. It is just amazing how Bikram Yoga works for me on all levels: physical, spiritual and mental. I would like to help others to bring positive changes into their lives, so I became a yoga teacher in 2004, and I love it.

I look forward to seeing you in the yoga room!

Kim began her yoga practice at the age of 15. She learned a few postures from watching yoga on PBS in the late 1970s. It was about 10 years later that she took it more seriously after many years of back pain due to arthritis. And then finally 10 more years passed when she finally found Bikram's Yoga. The Bikram's Yoga has made a tremendous difference in her life. Mainly, the stiffness, pain and inflammation from arthritis in her ribs and hips have almost vanished! After the first 10 Bikram Yoga classes she was interested in attending teacher training, mostly to challenge herself. After attending the Fall 2005 Teacher Training, Kim decided to teach. Along with her full-time job as a Meeting & Incentive Planner, she teaches twice a week and practices yoga regularly.

Kim is originally from Bangladesh and has lived in San Diego for most of her life. She currently is trying to motivate her very large family to attend a Bikram Yoga class. Maybe some day you'll see them all in class!

Michael Lindsay is another "true believer" in Bikram yoga. Like so many others, he felt from the very first class the power of Bikram yoga to transform his life. That was 3 1/2 years ago and, with the combination of a regular yoga practice and the intensive 9-week teacher training in 2002, he has been steadily transforming his life. Some of the more obvious changes include greater energy and productivity, more confidence and optimism, a leaner, more tone and flexible body, improved immune system functioning, and more patience, humility, and compassion.

Michael's experience that a regular yoga practice leads to a better quality of life is now at the core of his approach to life.

For Michael, teaching Bikram yoga is not only a way for him to deepen his understanding of this ancient, life-enhancing tradition. It is also his humble way to help pass this gift on to others.

When Michael is not in the yoga room, he is practicing psychology, working as a therapist for individuals and couples.

In 2000, Missy was introduced to Bikram Yoga by a good friend in college. She fell in love with the practice. She had always been involved in athletics and she loved and still loves the intensity of the yoga and its ability to completely shut off her mind. Additionally, she had suffered from poor circulation and swollen legs for many years and the yoga really helped reshape and transform her lower body.

Following a period of consistent Bikram practice she took a break from her career in sales to go through Bikram Teacher Training (Spring '08). She truly believes Bikram yoga can change people's lives. She became an instructor to pass on these benefits to others and share her knowledge of the yoga with students.